Canker Sores & Cold Sores:            

Just tell me what to take

Canker sores

Also known as "Aphthous Ulcers", Canker sores are small, painful crater like sores (ulcers)  that can appear on the tongue, the lips, the gums, or the inside of the cheeks.  A canker sore begins as a red, ulcerated spot with a yellowish border. The ulcer then becomes covered by a yellowish mixture of fluid, bacteria, and white blood cells.  Canker sores do not form blisters as cold cores (fever blisters) do.

Canker sores range in size from as small as a pinhead to as large as a quarter.  They appear suddenly and often leave suddenly, usually lasting from four to twenty days.  

Helpful Nutrition:

Vitamin C with bioflavonoids - 3000-8000 mg daily in divided doses.

Vitamin B complex  - 50-100 mg3 times daily  
Plus extra B3 (niacin) - 50-100 mg 3 times daily  - B vitamins are 
            basic  to the immune functions and healing.  (Caution: do not 
            take niacin if you have a liver disorder, gout or high blood
            pressure)
Plus extra B12 - 200 mcg 3 times daily on empty stomach
Folic acid - 400 mcg daily.

All B vitamins can be found in Nerve Support Formula

Also helpful:  Zinc Losenges & Garlic

Other Recommendations:

Eat plenty of salad with raw onions. Onions contain sulfur and have healing properties.
Avoid sugar, citrus fruits and processed or refined foods.

Consult your dentist if you have a mouth sore that does not heal.

Note: Stress and allergies are probably the most common cause of open sores in the mouth.  

For a good Daily Vitamins made from food -  Daily Nutrition For Optimum Health

Cold Sores:  

Also called fever blisters, they are caused by herpes simplex virus I (this is not Herpes Simplex II which is the sexually transmitted disease).  They first appear three to ten days after exposure and may last up to three weeks.  The virus then remains in the body, and repeated outbreaks may be triggered by fever, a cold or other viral infection, exposure to the sun and wind, stress, menstruation, or suppression of the immune system.  These sores are very contagious.

The first sign of a developing cold sore is local tenderness with a burning or tingling sensation and with a small bump.  Then comes the  blister, and there may be more tenderness in the area.  The adjacent lymph nodes may become swollen and tender.  In some cases, pus oozes from the blisters, which makes eating difficult.  Fortunately, there is always less discomfort with recurrences of cold sores then the initial outbreak.

At the first sign of an outbreak zap it with a high does of vitamin C. As soon as you get the burning and tingling take Vitamin C 

Helpful Nutrition:

Vitamin C- 3000-6000 daily in divided doses - Fights the virus and 
          boosts the immune function.  Use a buffered form.
Vitamin B complex - 100-150 mg twice daily - Important for healing
         and immune function.  Use a high-stress formula.
 Zinc Lozenges 1 15 mg lozenge every 3 waking hours for 2 days, then
         2 lozenges daily until healed (Do not exceed a total of 100 mg daily
         from all supplements. - Stimulates immune functions to fight the
         virus.   Zinc is absorbed quickly in lozenge form.

Also helpful:

Calcium & Magnesium - 1500 mg daily - to help relieve stress
Omega 3 Essential Fatty Acids -  as directed - aids skin in healing.

A good daily Vitamin & Mineral regime is recommended and can be found  Daily Nutrition For Optimum Health

Recommendations:

Eat plenty of raw vegetables as well as yogurt and other soured products.

Do not eat chocolate, peas, cereals, peanuts, beer, gelatin or raisins. They contain arginine and the virus needs  a certain amount of arginine to grow.  You might try limiting these foods if you are prone to cold sores and eliminating them during a breakout.

If cold sore outbreaks occur often, check for low thyroid function.

Where can I get these products?

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We have used our best judgment in compiling this information. The Food and Drug Administration may not have evaluated the information presented. Any reference to a specific product is for your information only and is not intended to diagnose, treat, cure, or prevent any disease